Then She Was Born

By: Cristiano Gentili

Narrated by: Dalan Decker

2018 Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize Finalist.

2017 Award Winning B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree and Awesome Indies Seal of Excellence for Outstanding Independent Literature.

In Africa, her color is a curse. But what if it’s also the key to her survival?

On the sun-drenched shores of a remote Tanzanian island, a baby is born—a child unlike any other. Her skin is seen as an omen of misfortune, a sign of evil. Her father turns away in horror. Her mother collapses in despair. The village elders whisper of ancient customs: such a child must not live.

But one woman refuses to accept fate. Nkamba, the child’s grandmother, defies tradition and claims the baby as her own. She names her Adimu—the rare one. Yet, in a land where belief carries more power than truth, Adimu’s survival is a fragile thing. She is hunted not only by superstition, but by those who see her as something even more sinister—a prize.

Meanwhile, across the island, Charles and Sarah Fielding—a wealthy British couple seeking refuge from their own past—become entangled in a story they do not yet understand. As desperation leads to unthinkable choices, their world collides with Adimu’s in a way that will change them all.

A child marked for death. A grandmother who dares to fight. A society where the color of your skin can seal your fate.

Then She Was Born is a spellbinding novel of resilience, love, and the courage to defy destiny. Inspired by real events.

©2025 Cristiano Gentili (P)2025 Cristiano Gentili

Critic reviews

"Both an engrossing tale and an effective call to action about a rarely discussed minority." -Kirkus Review

"Gentili's novel successfully pleads the case for improved treatment of African albinos... The novel is a detailed portrait of its community and is an intriguing look at a lesser-known aspect of Tanzanian life" - Publisher Weekly